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1
: acting rapidly or violently
a drastic purgative
2
: extreme in effect or action : severe
drastic measures
made drastic changes
Examples of drastic in a Sentence
The situation calls for drastic measures.
Maybe we should try something less drastic first.
Recent Examples on the Web
Last September, faulty door handle hardware caused Volkswagen to take the rather drastic steps of suspending sales and production of the electric crossover, as well as recalling almost 100,000 customer cars.
—Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2025
As interest payments approach $1 trillion annually the nation could lose the ability to pay its bonds (bills) without drastic increases in taxes.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
Paco, a punk rocker played by a ferocious Héctor Medina, is among those who take this drastic measure and is sent away.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Accordingly, the administration also undertook a drastic increase in arms sales to Saudi Arabia as part of a recognition of its outsize role in American interests in the region, especially due to its oil production.
—Benjamin V. Allison / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin drāsticus, borrowed from Greek drāstikós "active, energetic, (of medication) acting rapidly," from drāst-, stem of drā́stēs "doer, performer" (from drā-, variant stem of dráō, drân "to do, perform" + -tēs, agentive suffix, with analogical -s-) + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at drama
First Known Use
circa 1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near drastic
Cite this Entry
“Drastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drastic. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
drastic
1 of 2 adjective
dras·tic
ˈdras-tik
: acting rapidly or violently
—used chiefly of purgatives
drastic
2 of 2 noun
: a powerful medicinal agent
especially
: a strong purgative
More from Merriam-Webster on drastic
Nglish: Translation of drastic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drastic for Arabic Speakers
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